Today in Wheeling History: March 30—General Motors' "Train of Tomorrow" arrives in Wheeling for public display at the B&O Railroad passenger station at 1700 Market Street (1949).
The Train of Tomorrow was an innovative demonstrator train built by General Motors and Pullman-Standard between 1945 and 1947. This groundbreaking four-car streamliner featured revolutionary "Astra-Domes" atop each car—glass-enclosed penthouses seating 24 passengers with panoramic views. The train included a chair car (Star Dust), dining car (Sky View), sleeping car (Dream Cloud), and lounge-observation car (Moon Glow).
The train's stop in Wheeling proved remarkably successful. Arriving after displays at the 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair and visits to major cities nationwide, the Train of Tomorrow was exhibited on track 4 at the Baltimore and Ohio passenger station from 2 to 9 p.m. on March 30-31 and April 1, 1949. General Motors offered free admission to all Wheeling area residents. During the three-day visit, an impressive 20,174 people inspected the luxurious train—one of the largest crowds relative to city size during the entire nationwide tour, according to GM officials. Local newspapers extensively promoted the visit, with Frigidaire dealers sponsoring advertisements inviting residents to view the Frigidaire-equipped train. Visitors entered through the observation car's rear door and exited through the locomotive cab. The train departed at 1 a.m. Saturday, April 2, bound for Pittsburgh before continuing to Elmira, New York.
To learn more: Wikipedia – Train of Tomorrow (https://tinyurl.com/5n92cn2j), Themetrains.com – GM Train of Tomorrow (https://tinyurl.com/4a268k4z), WV Explorer – B&O Railroad in Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/3z5rmpv2), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/4275ycvy), Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/bddwfhh8) (https://tinyurl.com/mr2ehydc) (https://tinyurl.com/4prwvef2) (https://tinyurl.com/57w9vfzm) (https://tinyurl.com/5wruj2dc)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Wheeling News-Register, Wheeling Intelligencer
The Train of Tomorrow was an innovative demonstrator train built by General Motors and Pullman-Standard between 1945 and 1947. This groundbreaking four-car streamliner featured revolutionary "Astra-Domes" atop each car—glass-enclosed penthouses seating 24 passengers with panoramic views. The train included a chair car (Star Dust), dining car (Sky View), sleeping car (Dream Cloud), and lounge-observation car (Moon Glow).
The train's stop in Wheeling proved remarkably successful. Arriving after displays at the 1948 Chicago Railroad Fair and visits to major cities nationwide, the Train of Tomorrow was exhibited on track 4 at the Baltimore and Ohio passenger station from 2 to 9 p.m. on March 30-31 and April 1, 1949. General Motors offered free admission to all Wheeling area residents. During the three-day visit, an impressive 20,174 people inspected the luxurious train—one of the largest crowds relative to city size during the entire nationwide tour, according to GM officials. Local newspapers extensively promoted the visit, with Frigidaire dealers sponsoring advertisements inviting residents to view the Frigidaire-equipped train. Visitors entered through the observation car's rear door and exited through the locomotive cab. The train departed at 1 a.m. Saturday, April 2, bound for Pittsburgh before continuing to Elmira, New York.
To learn more: Wikipedia – Train of Tomorrow (https://tinyurl.com/5n92cn2j), Themetrains.com – GM Train of Tomorrow (https://tinyurl.com/4a268k4z), WV Explorer – B&O Railroad in Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/3z5rmpv2), Wheeling Intelligencer (https://tinyurl.com/4275ycvy), Wheeling News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/bddwfhh8) (https://tinyurl.com/mr2ehydc) (https://tinyurl.com/4prwvef2) (https://tinyurl.com/57w9vfzm) (https://tinyurl.com/5wruj2dc)
Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons, Wheeling News-Register, Wheeling Intelligencer
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